Slicing machine



March i9, W35. w. A. VAN BERKEL I SLICING MACHINE Filed Dec. l2, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet 1 @wauw @f5 Mach i9, 1935. w A VAN BERKEL A `Lggvl SLICINGMACHINE Filed Dec. l2, 1951 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @0K5 Zava/m Patented Mar.19, 1935 sucING MACHINE Wilhelmus Adrianus treux,

van Berkel, Clarens, `Mon- Switzerland, assignor to U. S.' SlicingMachine Company,v La Porte, Ind.,l a corpora--4 tion of IndianaAApplication December 12, 1.931, Serial No. 580,560v In Great BritainSeptember 5, 1931 7 Claims. (Cl. 14S-'102) This invention relatesl ingeneral to slicing machines in which the holder for the substance to besliced is slidably mounted. upon an under# table. More particularly, theinvention relates to means for slidably moving the feed table relativeto the base of the machine.

It is known, in connection with slicing ma-y chines, to provide thesubstance holder with certain mechanism capable in itself of guidingtheV holder in its movement across the under-table toward and away fromthe slicing knife. Such mechanism has been termed narrow guide mechanismand is substantially disposed at one side of the substance holder. Thisnarrow guide mechanism also functions normally to impose a frictionaldrag on the. substance holder to Vinsure the cutting of slices each ofwhich will have precisely the same desired thickness.

The primary object ofr the invention is to provide new and improvedguiding mechanism for slidably mounting the substance holder relative tothe base of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means fordetachably securing a substance holder to slidable guide means whichguide means are arranged in a narrow guideway from which the guide meansare rendered removable by the act of detaching and removing thesubstance holder.

Another object of thefinvention is to .provide improved means fordetachablyk securing slidable .guide means to a substance holder, saidmeans being arranged between'rigid walls `of a narrow guideway.

A further object is to provide means comprising a Vmain .member and an'auxiliary member both normally spring-pressed againstthe side Walls forrendering a slicing machine substance holder detachable and slidable andvalso for the purpose of creating a frictional drag on the substanceholder.

A still further object is to provide a slicing machine which-has asubstance holder movable in a predetermined direction by a feed screw,which has a relativelynarrow guideway mounted in the base thereof, theguideway carrying spaced blocks, which has means for tilting the blocksin a predetermined position to create a fric-tional drag on theVsubstance holder, and which has means for disconnecting the substanceholder from the feed screw and releasing the frictional drag whereby thesubstance holder may be .made to slide freely and easily along a base.

Still another object is to provide means in-V cluding horizontallyarranged springs which are interposed immediately between slide blocksand which are adapted normally to press-the blocksA intocontact with thewalls of .anarrow 'guide-l way. Numerous other objects and advantageswill be apparent throughout theprogress of ythe followingspecification." i

The: accompanying,vv drawings illustrate. a' selected embodiment of thelinvention andthe views therein are as follows;I i Y Fig. 1 is a vdetailelevation of a slicing machine and embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 isa detail plan viewof the improved slicing machine.`

Fig. 3 is a detail plan section on the line-3.`-3 ofFig.1.

Fig. 4 is a detail'sectionalY view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 showing thepartsin normal opferating position. j

Fig. 5 isV a detail sectional View on 'theline 5 5 .of'liig 3. Y l lFig. 6 is a View similar tol Fig. 4 showingv the parts out of theirnormal. operating position. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view on theline 7-7 ofFig.3.

The slicing ma'chine'hereinjshown has an un#- der-table 10 above whichthere is mounted a sub'- stance .holder 11. Automatic feedv mechanism(not shown) is provided for impartingVstep-'bw step movement to thesubstance holder 11 through the intermediary of an intermittentlyrotatable screw feed 12. A lfeed nut 13 connected to the substanceholder 11 has meshingv relation with the feed screw 12. f

Narrow guide mechanism consisting of a narrow'guideway and slidablemeans in the guideway is provided forY rendering the feed table freelyslidable when desired. The narrow guideway consists of a channel sectionportion and comprises a baseli and oppositely disposed side walls 15 and16. slidable guide meansvcomprising a main member or slide block 17 andan' auxiliary or retaining member 18 are slidably arranged in the narrowguideway -which guideway is vdeiined by the walls 15 and 16 and the base14.r The slide block 17 andthe retaining member 18rare associated with athin plate 19 which is secured to the guide block 17 and is disposed`between the under-table' A10 and the substance holder 11. The plate 19has a plurality of pivot pins 20 forming suspensory connections with theretaining member 18. A plurality of horizontally arranged springs 2l arearranged in oppositely disposed recesses 22 and 23 formed in theguideblock 17v and the retaining member 18 respectively. Al

tongue 24, Figs. 4 and 6, is secured to the retaining member andprojects out of the narrow guideway, making contact with a wiper 25 on acam 26. The cam 26 is pinned to a manually turnable shaft 27 which isjournalled at its ends in a casing 28, and which is provided with ahandie 29 at one end. The wiper 25 has a projection which cooperateswith the tip of the tongue 24. The handle 29 is associated with a handle30 which is fixed to an extension of the casing 28. The casing 28 isconnected by screws 28', Fig. 3, to the slide or guide block 17.

The cam 26 bears against the top end of a lever 3l, Figs. 4 and 6, whoselowerrend carries the segmental feed nut 13. The lever 31 is pressedagainst the cam 26 by a spring 32 which is anchored in a semi-sphericalcasing 33.V The semispherical casing 33 is secured to the casing 28 andsupports the fulcrum 34 of the lever `31.

The normal or operating position of the retaining member 18 is thatshown in Fig. 4 which position is the result of the springsVZl actingthereagainst and also the action of the wiper 25 on the tongue 24. Asshown, one of the bottom corners of the member 18 presses into the wall16,of the narrow guideway, thereby causing the member, when in tiltedposition, to impose a drag or frictional resistance to the'movementalong the narrow guideway of the Vslide block 17. When the member 18 isin tilted position it also acts to prevent the slide block 17 from beinginadvertently lifted out of the narrow guideway.

The slide or guide block 17 and the retaining member 18 cannot beremoved from the narrow guideway when-the substance S to be sliced,Figs. 1 and 2, is being tightly clamped upon the substance holder 11 bypressing down forcibly on the usual clamp which is supported by theuprights 35 and 36, Fig. 3. The uprights 35 and 36 are mounted on araised part 37 of the substance holder 11. The plate 19 is extendedacross the top of the guideway and enters a recess between the wall 16and an angle bar'38 which is secured to the wall, Figs. 2 to 7inclusive. When pressure is applied to the clamp, the plate 19 pressesupwardly against the top of the angle bar 38 and prevents upwardmovement of the slide block 17 and the other parts associated with theplate.

. In order to render the retaining member 18 inoperative it is simplynecessary to grasp the handles 29 and 30 at which time the handle 29will turn, causing the shaft 27 to partially rotate and turn the lever31 in a counterolockwise direction.

When the shaft 27 is partially rotated, the parts will be in theposition shown in Fig. 6 and the feed nut 13will be out of engagementwith the said screw 12. At the same time the wiper 25 will depress thetongue 24 and cause the member 18 to vtilt in a counterclockwisedirection about its suspensory pivotal connections 20. The operation ofthe handle 29, partially rotating the shaft 27, causes the biting actionof the retaining member 18 on the wall 16 of thenarrow guideway to berelieved. The slide block 17 can then be pushed or pulled Aalong theguideway without any restraint. Also, the members 17 and 18 may beremoved from the narrow guideway by lifting the substance holder 11after the removal of the bar 38.

In order that the substance holder 11 can be accurately located on theslide block 17, the slide block is provided with two upstandingprojecting tapered pins 39, Fig-7.-H These pins 39 are engaged bycorrespondingly tapered holes in the raised part 37 of the substanceholder. The substance holder is thus properly located and is locked inposition by means, of a latch 40, Figs. 3 and 5, which is pivotallyattached by a pin 4l to the part 37 of the substance holder. A handle 42is provided on the latch 40 for turning the latch. The latch 40cooperates'with a pin 43. The pin 43 is secured to the slide block 17 bymeans of a screw 44, Fig. 5, and is formed with a recess 45, Fig. 3,into which the latch 40 enters when the handle 42 is appropriatelyturned. The latch has an inclined top surface (as shown) particularly inFig. 5 and cooperates with the recess 45 which-is properly shaped toreceive the latch. The shaping of the latch and the recess insures tightengagement between the substance holder and the guide block.

In order to remove the substance holder from the machine it is simplynecessary to turn the handle 42 clockwise, Fig. 3, after which time thesubstance holder can be raised clear of the machine.

When the handles 29v and 30 are grasped and the shaft 27 turned so as tocause the retaining member 18 to occupy its inoperative position, asshown in' Fig. 6, the simple act of unlocking and removing the substanceholder leaves the slide block 17, the retaining member 18, and the plate19 free to be at once removed from the narrow guideway provided, ofcourse, the angle 38 has been removed. The removal of these partspermits them to be readily'inspected, cleaned, repaired, or replaced. i

The invention provides new and improved guide means for a substanceholder of slicing machines. The retaining member has a pivotalconnection with a plate which is slidably mountedv between the guidewayand the substance holder. The plate enters a recess which is associatedwith the narrow guideway and is adapted to prevent the slidable guidewayfrom ,being forcibly removed therefrom when clamping pressure is appliedto the substance holder. The device is positive and efficient inoperation permitting the substance holder to have freely slidablemovement when required and allowing the parts to be readily removed forthe purpose of cleaning, rel placing, and repairing.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of theparts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificingany of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all suchchanges as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A slicing machine comprising a base, said base having a' guidewayformed therein defined by side walls, slidable guide. means arrangedbetween thewalls of the guideway; said slidable means comprising a mainmember and an auX- iliary member, horizontally arranged springsinterposed between said members and pressing said members into contactwith the side walls, means for moving one of said members angularly tocause frictional engagement of said members in the guideway, saidguideway being provided with a recess, a substance holder, a platearranged between the substance holder and the base and engaging saidrecess, and means for fastening said plate to the slidable means.

2. A slicing machine comprising a base having a guideway formed therein,a slidable member arranged in said guideway, a second slidable memberarranged in said guideway, a substance holder carried by said base, aplate under the substance holder, means connecting the rst member to theplate, and means pivotally connecting the second member to the plate` 3.A slicing machine comprising a base having a guideway formed therein, aslidable member arranged in said guideway, a second slidable memberarranged in said guideway, a substance holder carried by said base, aplate under the substance holder, means connecting the rst member to theplate, means pivotally connecting the second member to the plate, andpivoted means for tilting the second member to create a drag with theguideway.

4. A slicing machine comprising a base having a guideway formed therein,a slidable member arranged in said guideway, a second slidable memberarranged in said guideway, a substance holder carried by said base, aplate under the substance holder, means connecting the rst member to theplate, means pivotally connecting the second member to the plate,pivoted means for tilting the second member to create a drag with theguideway, a slot and pin connection between the substance holder and theiirst member, and clamping means for clamping the substance holder inrigid position relative to the rst named member.

5. A slicing machine comprising abase having a guideway formed therein,a pair of slidable members arranged .in the guideway, a substance holdersupported by the base, a plate over the guideway and beneath the saidholder, one of said slidable members being connected to the plate, and apivoted connection between the plate and other member.

6. A slicing machine comprising a base having a guideway formed therein,a pair of slidable members arranged in the guideway, a substance holdersupported bythe base, a plate over the guideway and beneath the saidholder, one of said slidable members being connected to the plate, apivoted connection between the plate and other member, feed controllingmeans cooperating with one of saidmembers to tilt the same and create afriction against a wall of the guideway, and means for clamping thesubstanceholder, the plate and one of said members together.

7. A slicing machine comprising a base and a substance holder, said basehaving a guideway formed therein defined byside walls, slidable guidemeans arranged between the Walls of the guideway, said slidable meanscomprising a main member and an auxiliary member, horizontally arrangedsprings interposed between said members and pressing said members apartand into engagement with the side walls of the guideway, a platesituated between the base and the substance holder, and means pivotallyconnecting one of said above members to said plate for moving said onemember angularly into and out of frictional engagement with a wall ofthe guideway.

WILHELMUS ADRIANU'S VAN BERKEL.

